Nicki Minaj had an undeniably big 2011, and her 2012 might be even bigger. Two months into the new year and she has already had some huge looks. Besides performing alongside Madonna and MIA at the Super Bowl, who could forget her controversial performance at the Grammys? Plus her single "Starships" is already No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100. All this is just a warm-up to her sophomore effort, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded.

Last week, Barbie dropped the single “Roman Reloaded” featuring Lil Wayne. One thing you'll notice about the song right away: It knocks. That’s the work of young Rico Beats, best known for producing Soulja Boy’s “Mean Mug.” We got a hold of the talented Brooklyn beat maker, and he told us all about how he and Nicki got together, and even dished about his work on new projects from Pusha T and Jadakiss. Find out why Rico Beats is poised for a big 2012 himself...

On Producing Nicki Minaj’s “Roman Reloaded”

“Nicki’s assistant Safaree and I are both from Brooklyn. I’ve known him since back in the day, and we’ve always had a relationship. We hung out with the same crowd, and we kept in touch when I started making beats.

When Nicki was recording her first album, I missed out, because I was working on stuff for Soulja Boy.

“When Nicki was recording her first album, I missed out, because I was working on stuff for Soulja Boy. Safaree hit me when they started working on the new album, but I didn’t have anything for her. So in one month I did about 50 beats, and ‘Roman Reloaded’ was one they ended up keeping.

“I’ve been in the studio with her a couple of times, but not when she recorded ‘Roman Reloaded.’ Last month, I was in the studio with her in L.A., trying to get some more music on her album. She played me a snippet of ‘Roman Reloaded’ then, but it wasn’t finished yet.

“When I heard the finished version, it was crazy. For a dude like me, out of Brooklyn, to work with an artist on her level, it’s crazy. She’s a really nice person. A lot of people don’t know that about her. Every time we’re in the same room she shows love. She’s just really cool.”

Working on Pusha T’s next album

“For the last month, me, Pusha, and The-Dream have been gooning in Miami. We’ve been in the studio 24/7. I have so much new respect for The-Dream. I didn’t know he was that dope, until we started working. He’s amazing and the stuff he has on the album is crazy.

Fuck that Fear Of God shit. When people hear what we’ve been working on for the past month, it’s going to fuck shit up.

“The album’s almost done. We’re going over things and getting excited all over again. We did about eight or nine records together, and I think I’ve got about six on the album. The-Dream bodied the rest.

“Fuck that Fear Of God shit. When people hear what we’ve been working on for the past month, it’s going to fuck shit up. We’ve really developed a sound together that’s going to fuck up the game.

“Pusha’s really going to surprise everybody. We’re about to bring that dope-boy shit, because nobody expects a dope-boy to win a fucking Grammy and hit the charts. Pusha’s going to do that, without a doubt.

“It’s going to be the underdog story. It’s nothing like what’s on the radio right now. I’m not even worried about [The Grammy’s]. Trust me.”

The future

“I’ve got two crazy records on Jada’s next album. One of them is featuring Jeezy. The shit Jeezy’s spitting on that is like that old Jeezy. He’s spitting that TM 101 shit. The other record has a feature that’s going to surprise a lot of people, but I can’t speak on it. It’s going down.